TNAG-0138-FCO40-174-Conduct-of-Hong-Kong-commercial-relations-1969 — Page 195

2.

5.

In the Cuse of the current consultations with the Norvegins and Streden the above practice appears to

ave been conjul in certain respects, musely,

3.

(a) the consultations have bean conducted on

our side in tendon, with the Bri of Prole in the chuie (rather than tao Commonwealth Office or four; Kong);

(b) ducisions in some cases h ve been made

alant unilat rally by the Board of Trade;

@

(c)

in making thong decision Hong Kong's intereste nuk shɔ views of the Hong Kong Governint have not been than sufficiently into accoułu; Wid

(a) (the obverse of (c)) Board of fr.de

Oresentusi ma divo tunded to sc. only

and wider interational interests and not to live afficiently understood the preoccupatio is of Hong Kong

ون

Largely to a pomult of the Above, the consult- tions with th bona linavi mis have not only been unduly protructed but, in tite bounce of a single spolernan 01 our side, ti.. most a lot boon made of our negotiating position. Furthermore, a serious rick has been buken of co alienating the clinavia that they might have decided (and lay yet decide) to tame action Which could have geri rus conceņu neus for dong Kong,

7.

The comicion that can be dem from the above is thub a dintiretio.. shɔld be lade between wider policy iscuo: inv lved in Jong song 'n external commercial rolationą wk dheir day to day ama, mint, including the conduct of ne ɔtiations ith our trading partners. While it may from time to time by rucessary for the policy which the Hong Kong Goverilent would vich to pursue in the co merci il vol.tiem: where to be modified in the light of wiler Bribirk or internati......al Laborests that my be involved, there seems to be no re son why, once policy has osen decided, the song song Governant should not be entrusted with its 17 to day management and negotiations. Indeed, this approac.. would fit in best with whit is both politically possible mai practically feasible. The conduct of external commerci il relations can raise delicate politic.l issues in long Bong. The problems involved are nla, det,iled and conplex and only Hong Kong Civil Servante ctl be enumetod to have the necessary expertise and nowledg. of vis factual details.

8.

This does not mean that, in the conduct of negotiations, long lon hould not operate under d.N.G

ogis. It har al Gs been th Case hitherto, when pegotiations have both comiucted in foreign capitals (or even in Goneva Aero blure in a Hong Kong bection as an intrul part of the British Fission), for the Hong Kong team to operate fro the British Babassy or lission and for at least dis der of the Albassy or Hficsion concerned to do prudent at the baks. Neither does it mean that, in all circu nt.nces, a popresent itive of the

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